CIENA Integrates Ethernet Multiplexing into Online Edge.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

LINTHICUM, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 14, 2003

New Ethernet Capabilities Support Company's Ongoing LightWorks Services Strategy to Make Data Services Over the Existing Network More Profitable

CIENA(R) Corporation (NASDAQ:CIEN), a global provider of innovative network solutions, today announced it has added Ethernet multiplexing (EMUX) capabilities to its ONLINE Edge(TM) coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) platform. Available immediately, the new EMUX card enables service providers to optimize network utilization on lower-bandwidth data services at the network edge.

In today's network environment, service providers typically require multiple fibers or expensive add/drop multiplexers (ADMs) to transport low-bandwidth 10/100 Mbps Ethernet services for enterprise customers. CIENA's EMUX cards enable the ONLINE Edge to multiplex up to eight 10/100 Ethernet signals and a Gigabit Ethernet or Fibre Channel signal into one OC-48/STM-16 wavelength, making it possible for service providers to offer a variety of emerging data services on their current infrastructure without wasting valuable bandwidth. CIENA's EMUX solution can provide up to 80 percent capital savings over legacy approaches in addition to significant operational savings.

With this enhancement, CIENA continues to take real steps in making data services more efficient at the network edge, which benefits both service providers and their customers. By replacing multiple fibers and ADMs with an integrated Ethernet MUX, CIENA is enabling carriers to take cost out of delivering enterprise data services while providing carrier-class reliability for business-critical applications.

The integrated EMUX is the latest element of CIENA's LightWorks Services strategy to enable service providers to use their existing infrastructure to make current services more profitable and to capitalize on new opportunities in enterprise data services without overlay data networks.

CIENA's EMUX card enables service providers to offer carrier-class Ethernet Private Line, Ethernet Virtual Private Line and Fibre Channel services on a single network. It also overcomes the inherent distance limitations of Fibre Channel with a distance extension technology that enables service providers to support Fibre Channel services up to hundreds of kilometers without loss in throughput.

From an operational cost-savings perspective, the native performance monitoring metrics embedded in the EMUX card enables guaranteed service level agreements (SLAs) and minimizes the amount of time and effort needed to troubleshoot service outages, providing distinct operational savings to carriers.

The EMUX family of cards supports both electrical and optical interfaces on the client side. In addition, because the cards are interoperable, they enable service providers to pick up electrical 10/100 interfaces at the client interface and drop them off as optical 10/100 interfaces. This feature gives carriers the ability to service a variety of customer configurations cost effectively.

"As we continue to drive our solutions further toward the edge of the network, CIENA remains committed to helping service providers improve operating margins for their data services," said Francois Locoh-Donou, vice president of marketing at CIENA. "The integration of the Ethernet MUX into ONLINE Edge will enable carriers to offer multiple services on a single network more efficiently, and more profitably."

ABOUT CIENA

CIENA Corporation delivers innovative network solutions to the world's largest service providers, increasing the cost-efficiency of current services while enabling the creation of new carrier-class data services delivered on the existing network infrastructure. Additional information about CIENA can be found at www.ciena.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions of CIENA (the Company) that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this release, including but not limited to the features and benefits of CIENA's products, are based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in such forward-looking statements, due to risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's business, which include the risk factors disclosed in the Company's Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 22, 2003. Forward looking statements include statements regarding the Company's expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future and can be identified by forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," "will," and "would" or similar words. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.